CindyMackie Foundation

01/31/2024

01/31/2024

Chester News and Reporter article about all the Award Recipients for 2023/2024!🩷. Thank You Travis Jenkins for such a beautiful write up!

The CindyMackey Foundation says it distributes funds for scholarships and grants, but for nearly 15 years what it has really paid for is dreams. Dreams of building libraries, dreams of

01/25/2024

Our final presentation took us back to Lewisville Elementary school in Richburg, SC. A special Mackie Grant has been awarded to Payton Wishert, a first year teacher of second grade students. What makes this award different is that Books-a-Million wanted to partner with us again for the 15th anniversary of the foundation. They will donate a percentage of the cost to allow all of Payton’s students a special private shopping spree and $50 worth of books per child. CMF will fund the remaining cost of the shopping spree as well as transportation, drivers and chaperones for the field trip.

Payton expressed that, “Reading is an important part in early elementary grades. This is where the foundation for students start.” We know that letting the students choose their own books will excite them to read more often. It will also show the children that they have a community who care about them and who are cheering them on.

Congratulations Payton! What an amazing start to your teaching career!! We loved seeing the excitement in your children’s faces when they heard about their special award!

01/25/2024

On the road again for our final day of giving.

01/25/2024

Our 7th presentation was of the virtual variety. But, we were able to include parents, grandparents, sister and aunt in the celebration! Thank you, Jackson, for helping us pull off this surprise from Boone, NC!

Daisee Mershon is currently a student teacher at Hudson Elementary School in Boone, NC, and received a Mackie Grant to allow her to purchase supplies to start her own classroom as a first year teacher in the Fall of 2024. She will use it to create a space where students feel comfortable to create, make mistakes and to learn. A classroom library will spark imagination and interest in reading.

Daisee told us, “I aspire to make all students feel appreciated and included no matter what challenges or obstacles they may face. I have had students in the past that did not speak English or had disabilities. I work 1-on-1 with students to ensure their success in the classroom. I want all students to feel that spark when learning. I ensure that each child knows that their ideas are valued and that I am here for them both inside and outside of the classroom.”

Daisee has loved to read and wanted to be a teacher since she was a little girl. This career allows her to share her love for literature and the arts, including incorporating her second love of dance.

We love your passionate heart for teaching and know that you will change the lives of many children!
Congratulations Daisee!

01/24/2024

Lunch break earlier today. Yummy!!

01/24/2024

Our 6th stop took us to Hawk Ridge Elementary School in Charlotte, NC, where we presented our 8th award to Carrie Stoehr. A teacher of 31 years, Carrie currently works with grades 3-5, primarily in reading. She is passionate about fostering a reading culture among her students. She says, “there is nothing more exciting to me than when I get a student hooked on a book.”

Reading at school these past 3 years post-COVID has been a struggle, as some students did not have access to books or the encouragement to pick up a book to read. Carrie plans to use her Mackie Grant to purchase age-appropriate books that include a mix of genres and reading levels.
She will then start an in-house battle of the books program to regain the spark for reading in 4th and 5th grade students.

The need is slightly different for her 3rd graders. Many struggle to stick with the same book to the end. For them, she will purchase high-interest books and hold parent/guardian workshops on how they can read to their child with the goal of developing a love of reading.

We agree that all children benefit from a strong foundation in reading and vocabulary. And we cannot wait to hear updates on these awesome new programs. Congratulations Carrie!!

01/24/2024

Day number 3 of giving.
🎶On the road again…🎶

01/24/2024

We’ll be back on the road tomorrow, so stay tuned!

01/24/2024

Our 5th presentation is to 3-time Higher Education Scholarship recipient, Julia Wyatt. We love Julia’s belief that anything is attainable with hard work. And her faith in and love of her Lord and Savior is clearly shown through her grace toward others.

Julia says, “literature has been, in my life, the roadmap to understanding others and myself. Literature is also an escape. One of life’s greatest pleasures is reading a book, imagining your life from the perspective of the protagonist, or appreciating that their world possesses the complexities and joys which you can enjoy secondhandedly.”

The arts have also been a significant portion of Julia’s life. She has studied piano for fifteen years, founded Inner Journey School of Music, written numerous compositions, and taught over 20 students the fundamentals of playing piano and learning theory from this passion. As a music teacher, she considers her job “a great gift” and loves to teach her students how to enjoy the arts. These skills help them express themselves emotionally and physically.

This scholarship will allow Julia to “continue my college education, and next, to continue teaching music.”

Congratulations Julia! We love your servant heart and look forward to watching the impact you continue to make in all the lives you touch!